Apparatus for clock

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for an electrical clock of the type mounted in an automobile. The apparatus comprises a base plate having one side which is mounted on the electrical motor of the clock in abutment with the rear wall of the motor. The other side of the base plate has posts which are used to support an electrical circuit board for the clock. Two plug contacts project outwardly from the base plate on the circuit board side and extend through openings in the circuit board. The plugs have soldering lugs for connecting them to the electrical network of the circuit board.

United States Patent [1 1 Wagenknecht et al.

1 APPARATUS FOR CLOCK [75] Inventors: Benno August Wagenknecht Pforzheim; Horst Erich Breckle Munich. both of Germany [73] Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corporation, Oak

Brook. Ill.

{22] Filed: Aug. 16, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 498,082

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 21, 1973 Germany .5 2342250 [521 US. Cl. 58/23 R;58/53; 339/17 R [511 Int. Cl i. G04c 3/00; G041) 37/00 [58] Field of Search M 58/23 R, 23 D 53, 55,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Mutter ct ul H 58/23 A l l June 10, 1975 Valfray 58/55 Yamazaki 58/55 1571 ABSTRACT An apparatus for an electrical clock of the type mounted in an automobile. The apparatus comprises a base plate having one side which is mounted on the electrical motor of the clock in abutment with the rear wall of the motor. The other side of the base plate has posts which are used to support an electrical circuit board for the clock. Two plug contacts project outwardly from the base plate on the circuit board side and extend through openings in the circuit board The plugs have soldering lugs for connecting them to the electrical network of the circuit board.

15 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH I 0 ms SHEET APPARATUS FOR CLOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a clock, especially an automobile crystal clock with a gearing connected with a time indicator and driven by the shaft of an electrical motor. The clock further includes electrical elements arranged on a circuit board forming a control circuit connectable by plug contacts with a current source. A housing encloses the clocks gearing, electrical motor, and the circuit board.

A clock is known having a relatively small electrical motor. Such a known clock is easily damaged due to mechanical shocks from the automobile, and is difficult to disassemble for repair. Further, small electrical motors are not suitable for clocks with digital indication due to the motors low power output.

Therefore, the industry is inclined to use larger motors for clocks, which motors have a higher torsional moment and are also less subject to mechanical damage by shocks. These clocks also have the advantage of operating more efficiently. Due to the higher torsional moment, they can be used equally well for clocks provided with indicator hands as well as for digital clocks whereby the quantities of production are larger and the price of fabrication lower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to produce a clock having the same housing dimensions of prior art clocks while at the same time utilizing a stronger motor than conventional clocks.

According to the invention, the motor is designed as a supporting structural element. A base plate is attached to the rear wall of the motor housing on the end opposite the gearing. The base plate is designed as the sole support for a circuit board, and also serves as the emplacement for plug contacts and the housing.

By designing the motor as a supporting element, separate supports can be eliminated and it is possible to utilize a large motor almost filling the space inside the housing. A base plate is attached to the rear wall of the motor housing, and provides simple, stable, and safe attachment for the circuit board, as well as for plug contacts and for the housing. After removal of the housing, the circuit board with its structural elements is immediately accessible. The clock according to the invention is simply designed, since the usual separate supports for the circuit board and the housing can be ornmitted.

In a preferred embodiment, the base plate is lackingly connected to the motor by U-shaped lugs extending from the motor through the base plate and then bent. This manner of connection is very shockproof and is detachable at any desired time by re-bending the U-shanks of the lugs.

With regard to the plug contacts, it is advantageous to manufacture the base plate from an insulating mate rial. Then, the plug contacts can be connected directly with the base plate without a short circuiting to other elements.

To facilitate installing the circuit board upon the base plate, it is of advantage to arrange pin-like guide fingers on the base plate for extending into corresponding bores in the circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is shown in the fol lowing drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded rear view of a clock;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a base plate;

FIG. 3 is a partial section through the base plate shown in FIG. 2 along the line III-IIl; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view throught the base plate shown in FIG. 2 along the line lV-IV.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The rear side of an automobile crystal clock I is shown in Figure l as an exploded view illustrating a clock body 2, a gearing 3 on the rear side of the clock body, and an electrical motor 4, connected be a drive shaft (not shown) to the gearing. The gearing 3 is arranged between two base plates 5 and 6 which are attached at some distance from each other by screws 7 on the rear wall of the clock body 2. The gearing 3 is connected with the time indicators placed on the front side (not shown) of the clock body. In the present case, the time indicators are the hands of a clock.

The clock assembly 1 includes a base plate 8 and a circuit board 9 with an electrical network forming a control circuit. On the assembled clock, there is also a housing (not shown) surrounding a gearing 3, and electrical motor 4, a base plate 8, and the circuit board 9. The housing has essentially a cylindrical surface, as well as a basically circular front side, and covers the above-mentioned parts, except the plug contacts 10 arranged on the base plate 8. These plug contacts are brought outward through openings in the rear side of the housing. The housing has further spacer bolts provided with threads for the eventual attachment of the housing.

The electrical motor 4 is relatively large in relation to conventional motors. It is designed as a structural part and is attached on the gearing 3 on the side where the driven shaft is mounted. Two U-shaped lugs 12, 13 project from the rear wall 11 of the motor housing on the side opposite from the gearing. The lugs l2, 13 are spreadable, and as indicated by dashed lines, can be introduced into rectangular openings in the base plate. These U-shaped lugs with their shanks are spread apart for a safe anchoring of the base plate 8 on the housing of the motor which forms a dismountable, form-locking connection.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base plate has an approximately circular shape. It has an abutting portion 16 directly adjacent to the rear wall of the motor housing 11 and an offset portion 17 reduced and placed above portion 16. On the ofi'set portion 17, the plug contacts 10a, 10b extended from the side opposite the rear wall of the motor housing. As it is seen in FIG. 3 and 4, these plug contacts are connected by connection webs 18 with their own soldering pins 19 and 20. These soldering pins are attached with the help of rivets 21 and 22 to the base plate. As seen in FIG. 3, the soldering pins extend above the level of the base plate so that they penetrate the installed circuit board 9, and can be soldered there to the electric circuit. In the mounted clock, the plug contacts 10a, 10b are connected with an outside source of current, whereby the circuit board and the remaining electrical devices, as for example, the motor, are connected to a current source.

The plug contact 100 has an extension 100 which presses against the motor housing when the base plate is mounted against the motor housing, thus effecting the ground wiring circuit to the motor. The ground extension lc is shown in FIG. 4.

The base plate 8 has further a circular opening 23 which is placed over the drive shaft of the electrical motor 4 when the base plate is mounted.

Three posts 24, 2S, and 26, are integrally connected to the base plate 8 for attaching the housing (not shown). The posts have one inner bore which is rectangular in cross-section. The circuit board 9 has corresponding bores through which self-tapping screws anchored on the housing can be screwed into the bores in the sleeves. Conically pointed guide pins 27 are further provided on the base plate 2 extending above the base plate and penetrating into corresponding bores 28 and 29 on the circuit board for securing the circuit board. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the base plate 8 has a recess 30 formed as a cavity, wherein the electrical elements are place when the circuit board is mounted. The posts 24, 2S, and 26 do not penetrate into the mounted circuit board, but extend out from the circuit board and serve as spacers.

In order to eliminate short circuits the base plate is manufactured in the present case from a transparent, insulating plastic material.

Electrical elements are arranged on the side of the circuit board 9, facing the base plate as shown in FIG. 1. They are soldered into an electrical circuit on the circuit board. The circuit board has a larger surface than the base plate. The smaller electrical elements are arranged on the surface of the circuit board opposite the recess 30 and extend into this recess. The larger electrical elements are arranged mainly on the outer surface of the circuit board so that they extend around the base plate and the electrical motor.

The circuit board has two longitudinal slots 31 and 32, placed at right angles to each other, and through which the plug contacts a, 10b are conducted when the circuit board is mounted in its place.

As shown in FIG. 1, there are two more electrical conduits 33 and 34 present on the electrical motor 4 which are soldered at their free ends into the network of the circuit board 9 when the clock is assembled.

From the foregoing, it can be readily realized that this invention can assume various embodiments. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but is to be limited only be the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mounting device for use with an electrical clock having an electrical motor and mounted in a housing, said mounting device comprising:

a base plate having two sides;

means on said base plate for mounting said base plate to the electrical motor, whereby said electrical motor projects outwardly from one side of said base plate;

carrier means projecting from the otherside of said base plate for supporting an electrical circuit board; and

electrical coupling means projecting from said base plate for electrically coupling the electrical motor to the circuit board and to an external power sup- 2. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier means comprises a plurality of posts projecting from said other side of said base plate, each post forming a receptacle for receiving a connector coupled to the circuit board.

3. The mounting device as claimed in claim I, wherein said mounting means comprises two slots extending through said base plate and adapted to receive forked lugs extending from the electrical motor.

4. The mounting device as claimed in claim I, wherein said electrical coupling means comprises a pair of plug contacts extending outwardly from said other side of said base plate, at least one of said contacts ex tending through said plate to form a resilient ground for contacting an abutting wall of the electrical motor.

5. The mounting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said carrier means includes a plurality of pins projecting outwardly from said other side of said base plate, each pin being adapted to extend into a corresponding aperature in the electrical circuit board.

6. The mounting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said posts also serve as attachment means for attaching said base plate to the housing by means of a common connector coupled to both the circuit board and the housing.

7. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate is formed from an insulating material.

8. The mounting device as claimed in claim I, wherein said base plate has a substantially circular circumference.

9. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one side of said base plate comprises an abutting portion for abutting a rear wall of the electrical motor and an offset portion spaced from the rear wall of the electrical motor when said base plate is mounted on the electrical motor.

10. The mounting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said other side of said base plate adjacent said offset portion has a recess.

11. The mounting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said posts are integral with said base plate and said receptacles in said posts comprise rectangular passageways extending longitudinally through said posts for receiving threaded connectors.

12. The mounting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plug contacts include soldering pins for electrically coupling said plug contacts to the circuit board.

13. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate has a circular opening in said abutting surface for providing clearance for the shaft of the electrical motor.

14. The mounting device as claimed in claim 4, including rivets clamping said plug contacts to said base plate.

15. An apparatus for an electrical clock which is mounted in a housing, said mechanism comprising:

an electrical motor for driving a time indicator of the electrical clock, said motor having a driving end for coupling to the drive train of a time indicator of the clock, and a support end with a rear wall;

a base plate having an abutting side and a coupling side;

mounting means on said motor and said base plate for mounting the abutting side of said base plate on said rear wall of said motor;

coupling side of said base plate and extending through openings in said circuit board, said plug contacts having soldering pins for connecting them to the electrical circuit of said circuit board. 

1. A mounting device for use with an electrical clock having an electrical motor and mounted in a housing, said mounting device comprising: a base plate having two sides; means on said base plate for mounting said base plate to the electrical motor, whereby said electrical motor projects outwardly from one side of said base plate; carrier means projecting from the otherside of said base plate for supporting an electrical circuit board; and electrical coupling means projecting from said base plate for electrically coupling the electrical motor to the circuit board and to an external power supply.
 2. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier means comprises a plurality of posts projecting from said other side of said base plate, each post forming a receptacle for receiving a connector coupled to the circuit board.
 3. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises two slots extending through said base plate and adapted to receive forked lugs extending from the electrical motor.
 4. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical coupling means comprises a pair of plug contacts extending outwardly from said other side of said base plate, at least one of said contacts extending through said plate to form a resilient ground for contacting an abutting wall of the electrical motor.
 5. The mounting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said carrier means includes a plurality of pins projecting outwardly from said other side of said base plate, each pin being adapted to extend into a corresponding aperature in the electrical circuit board.
 6. The mounting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said posts also serve as attachment means for attaching saId base plate to the housing by means of a common connector coupled to both the circuit board and the housing.
 7. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate is formed from an insulating material.
 8. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate has a substantially circular circumference.
 9. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one side of said base plate comprises an abutting portion for abutting a rear wall of the electrical motor and an offset portion spaced from the rear wall of the electrical motor when said base plate is mounted on the electrical motor.
 10. The mounting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said other side of said base plate adjacent said offset portion has a recess.
 11. The mounting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said posts are integral with said base plate and said receptacles in said posts comprise rectangular passageways extending longitudinally through said posts for receiving threaded connectors.
 12. The mounting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plug contacts include soldering pins for electrically coupling said plug contacts to the circuit board.
 13. The mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate has a circular opening in said abutting surface for providing clearance for the shaft of the electrical motor.
 14. The mounting device as claimed in claim 4, including rivets clamping said plug contacts to said base plate.
 15. An apparatus for an electrical clock which is mounted in a housing, said mechanism comprising: an electrical motor for driving a time indicator of the electrical clock, said motor having a driving end for coupling to the drive train of a time indicator of the clock, and a support end with a rear wall; a base plate having an abutting side and a coupling side; mounting means on said motor and said base plate for mounting the abutting side of said base plate on said rear wall of said motor; carrier means for projecting from said coupling side of said base plate; an electrical circuit board fastened to said base plate by said carrier means; and a pair of plug contacts projecting outwardly from said coupling side of said base plate and extending through openings in said circuit board, said plug contacts having soldering pins for connecting them to the electrical circuit of said circuit board. 